Andeisha Farid

Afghanistan

Andeisha Farid spent her childhood living in refugee camps outside of Afghanistan. While living in the camps, Andeisha’s father taught her how to read and write, and at that young age of eleven, she decided that she was going to tutor other Afghani women and children who had no place to learn. While living in Pakistan, Andeisha got involved with a non-profit that started the Child Sponsorship program in conjunction with the U.S. based charity, Charity Help International. Upon the program’s inception, Andeisha was named Program Coordinator. After a successful run with the Child Sponsorship Program, Andeisha moved back to Kabul in 2007 and started a new non-profit, the Afghan Child Education and Care Organization (AFCECO). Today, AFCECO runs two orphanages in Pakistan and seven orphanages in Afghanistan, in addition to a girl’s school and several vocational training centers. Each of her orphanages houses over 180 children.

After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Portsmouth, Andeisha enrolled in the 10, 000 Women training program, where she says that her management and leadership skills have improved dramatically as has her comprehension of financial management. Since graduation from the program, Andeisha has hired a finance manager to assist her in using her resources more effectively. Andeisha continues to build her skills through the 10,000 Women mentoring program, including her fluency in Dari, English and Pashto, and is seeking donations in order to support more children in her orphanages.

In the face of extraordinary adversity and the general climate of Afghanistan today, Andeisha is an integral part of her country’s next generation of leaders who are trying to rebuild the country’s future. In addition to providing children a safe and nurturing environment, Andeisha’s AFCECO instills important leadership values of tolerance and the value of education in Afghanistan’s future generations. In this way, Andeisha believes that AFCECO’s principles and policies set their children up for future success and on an even greater scale, contribute to a more tolerant and prosperous future for Afghanistan.